Shocking loss for Fine Gael in general election means Ireland set for hung parliament

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny talks to the media at the vote count for the general election in Castlebar. Voters punished Ireland's coalition government and boosted smaller parties in the first election since emerging from an EU bailout programmePaul Faith/AFP/Getty Images

The coalition government in the Republic of Ireland has been kicked out of office after an unexpectedly poor showing in yesterday's general election. The current Irish prime minister (taoiseach) Enda Kelly has retained his seat and looks likely to remain in charge of the largest party, Fine Gael.

However, as Fine Gael is predicted to lose up to 30 seats, and its coalition partners the Irish Labour party's seats set to be reduced from 33 to 10 seats, the current coalition will no longer be able to hold a majority of seats in Ireland's parliament (the Oireachtas). The final result of the election will probably not be known until Monday, with ballots due to be counted throughout Sunday.

Ireland's major parties

Fine Gael
Historically the largest of the Republic of Ireland's political parties, Fine Gael was founded in 1933, in the shadow of the Irish Civil War.

Today, Fine Gael is a pro-EU liberal-conservative and Christian democratic party, which claims to be a 'progressive centre' party dedicated to acting "in a way that is right for Ireland, regardless of dogma or ideology".

Despite Fine Gael's widespread support, it's usually relied on coalition agreements with Ireland's Labour party to control the Oireachtas – the upper house of Ireland's parliament.

Fianna Fáil
Also known as 'The Republican Party', Fianna Fáil was formed by breakaway members of Sinn Féin in 1926.

A centrist conservative party, Fianna Fail places itself to Fine Gael's left and to the right of Sinn Féin and Ireland's Labour party. Currently, it forms a popularist party formed of people across Ireland's social groups.

While Fine Gael traditionally dominated the Oireachtas between 1932-2011, Fianna Fáil controlled the Dáil Éireann – the lower house of Ireland's parliament – for 69 of those 71 years.

Surveys and polls have shown that there is very little to differentiate between Fine Gael's and Fianna Fáil's policies and views, and their support levels were remarkably stable. Whether this continues to be true after this general election's results remains to be seen.

On Saturday night Kelly vowed that he would not to step down, and said he still had "to provide the country with a stable government in the future and I will consider that very carefully over the next 36 hours".

"This is a disappointment for the Fine Gael party," he admitted, adding that you can "argue about" the people's decision, but "the government of Fine Gael and Labour are not going to be returned to office".

With Fine Gael's historic opposition, Fianna Fáil, narrowly behind them in polls, pressure is beginning to mount on the two sides to try and form a government. However, both parties have insisted that they would not enter into a coalition.

Before the election, Fine Gael had 73 seats. Its coalition deal with the Irish Labour party gave the parties the biggest majority in Irish political history.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he was "very pleased" with the way results were shaping up, insisting that the country would have to wait to see what the new government would look like.

"A lot will depend on the destination of the last seats in many constituencies. It's a bit too early to be definitive, but it's clear we're going to have a good day," he said.

The election was much better for smaller parties, including Sinn Féin which looks set to win up to 20 seats – its best result ever. The wins include Gerry Adams, who was returned to his seat in Louth.

Ireland's Green Party did unexpectedly well too, winning two seats after their wipeout in 2011.